The Patience of Saul

Samuel anointed Saul king of Israel because the people wanted a king. In 1 Samuel 10:6-8, Samuel more or less told Saul what to expect. He said God would bless him, give him a new heart, and bless him in all he set his mind to do. The one thing Samuel laid down specifically was “Then go to Gilgal. I’ll come a little later, so wait for me. It may even take a week for me to get there, but when I come, I’ll offer sacrifices to please the Lord and to ask for his blessing. I’ll also tell you what to do next.” (verse 8) In all fairness to Saul, it might have taken as much as a year to get to the point where he was now at Gilgal.

It was not a fun place. Or situation. The Philistines were getting ready to attack. Saul’s men were panicking and running away, abandoning him. Pretty chaotic. The days dragged on, and Samuel wasn’t showing up. Saul decided to take matters into his own hands and make the offering Samuel was supposed to be there to make.

Then Samuel shows up. “What have you done?” he yells at Saul. Saul tried explaining himself, “When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash, I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the Lord.’ So I forced myself and offered the burnt offering.”

So many, many things wrong here. First off, God told Saul to “Wait. It may take as MUCH AS A WEEK.” Second, he was distressed by the chaos around him. His men hiding in caves or running off. Third, the Philistines were getting ready to attack. Really, really bad situation. He had lost control of everything. He did acknowledge he needed the blessing of the Lord but considering he had been told to “Wait!” that was kind of weak. And even then, he tried to squeak by—“I forced myself…”

Yes, Samuel was upset. He told Saul that he had lost the right to be king because of his disobedience. As Samuel turned to go, Saul tried to stop him, apologize, beg him for another chance. He grabbed hold of Samuel’s robe. It tore. Samuel told him, “In the same way, God will tear the kingdom from your hands.” Saul would reign for a few more years but David would be the new king.

Now the application of this story. I’m not a patient person. There are some people who are spontaneous, okay with “whatever.” Not me. You want to do something with me or for me, I need to know day, date, time, place, agenda, and should I bring anything. I don’t do well with “Whatever,” which is the equivalent of “Wait.”

But that’s exactly where I find myself. I’m waiting. I have no idea for what. Or when. Or who. Or why. That’s the big, “life goal” picture. I’m waiting. On a daily, smaller basis, it’s more like “I haven’t heard from my daughter in several days. Lord, should I call her?”

“Wait.”

“But what if she’s mad at me? What if I said something that upset her?”

“Wait.”

“I could text her. Then I’m not interrupting her, and she can answer when she wants.”

“Wait.”

Notice a pattern here? I’m sounding like Saul. I’m not only waiting for whatever God has in mind for my life but also for what he has in mind each day. So hard. And it’s so easy to come up with a thousand reasons why I should go ahead and do what I have a mind to do. Just like Saul did. I need to relax in this time of waiting. Even if it lasts the rest of my life.